Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Hello everyone. I have found information, support, and encouragement from this group for the past two months as I have read your daily discussions. I want to thank you all for that. I have joined this group as there is so much more I need, and hope that I can give back a little to others as I work through this process of this disease. I was considered perfectly healthy (except for 18 years of migraine headaches) until February 2009, when RA hit. I suppose I should feel lucky that I was given the diagnosis within three months of the flare in my right hand. But the fact is I have now been in constant pain the past five months, and on the meds, but still getting worse. I have been on 16 mg MTX for 8 weeks, 10 mg Prednisone for 8 weeks and 3 doses of 50 mg of Enbrel. I'm using tramadol for pain through the day and vicodan to sleep. My body feels like a toxic cesspool. Besides combating the migraines with every pharmaceutical and natural remedy known to man, I have not been a "pill taker". The crazy thing is once RA hit, the migraines stopped. OK, I really don't want to hear that that is a blessing (even though I know it is).
Am I being impatient with the meds? Should I keep feeling more pain in the joints each week and more joints hurting at this point? Does the weekly MTX seem to fire up the pain and the flares on the first day?
Boy, I could go on and on. So much more to ask, especially about the emotional side of this. I looked for a real live support group two months ago when I realized I needed help. I was shocked to discover there was none in my area. That's when I found this group. It's been the only place I can go where I feel like I'm not crazy.
Am I being impatient with the meds? Should I keep feeling more pain in the joints each week and more joints hurting at this point? Does the weekly MTX seem to fire up the pain and the flares on the first day?
Boy, I could go on and on. So much more to ask, especially about the emotional side of this. I looked for a real live support group two months ago when I realized I needed help. I was shocked to discover there was none in my area. That's when I found this group. It's been the only place I can go where I feel like I'm not crazy.
I've found much support and information here, I'm glad you found us. As I'm sure others will tell you, the meds affect us all differently and it does take longer for some people. I've been on MTX for 14 weeks and am still not sure if it is working (I go see the Dr. again tomorrow). I have pain in more places than when I began meds (but in the last week or two have noticed decrease in the severity of pain in some places) -and I tend to ache pretty badly the day after I take the MTX. On my last visit to the Dr. she said, " i know we say three weeks to three months for MTX to kick in, but a lot of times it's more like 5 months" - not sure if that is helpful or not :)
Feel free to ask away, we all have questions and need support.
- Tort
I am now on 8 pills a week of MTX, but although my doctor wanted me to take the prednisone to help with the pain, I decided to wait and see if the MTX would be working. I told my dr that if I was on the pred, then how would I know if the MTX would start working and a couple of weeks after increasing the dosage, I began to see improvement. The fatigue feels like a solid lead suit that drags down my body and mind and the pain is pretty much all over. My morning fatigue that I've had for over 10 years, is improving. My approach with the medication was to work with the drs first recommendation (the MTX in my case) and making sure to give it enough time to be therapeutic and hopefully not rush to change meds. Ive lucky that Ive had minimal stomach problems, but Im sure that the folic acid helps with many of the possible side effects.
Wishing you the best!!!!!
Zeyda
I have been on MTX for about 3.5 years and it took a good 6 months to kick in. It definately worked better when I added enbrel(off enbrel now due to constant respiratory issues) The tramadol made me feel much worse, almost like I had the flu, I ached worse and was sick to my stomach. I agree with Pearl the folic acid is a help too.
Lots of hot baths, heating blankets, and as odd as it sounds, keep moving even if it is only a little while a day, walk and stretch.
AND come here often, this is the best medicine there is.
this really is the best place to come, to whine, vent, cry, or laugh. or even ask for advice! LOL i'm on mtx and humira, and after over 6 months, the doc has decided that something isn't working, so he's gonna switch my meds. don't know what to yet. :/ tramadol for me was like taking sugar candy, without the sugar high! did nothing. so during the day while i'm working, i suffer thru it, then come home and curl up with my darvocet! ahhh...
once again, welcome! hugs,
brat
Welcome! I know you'll love it here as much as I do. There are so many wonderful people here who actually care. Also, you'll find lots of great information, encouragement & support as well.
Medication is different for each person. So, it's hard to say what is truly effective. I can't take NSAID's. They are too hard on my stomach, and I've never found one that works for me.
Looking forward to sharing stories, and experiences with you.
Keeping you in my heart, thoughts & prayers.
God Bless.
Somuch
I found this group to be wonderful. You learn so much and helps to talk.
I think the hardest thing to do is wait out for that medicine to kick in. I did ok with the first set of meds and waiting those weeks for it to hit the 1 month mark was hard and most call for two to three months before you notice, how can you be patient when in pain but all the drugs seem to have that 3 month mark attached. I can only imagine how hard it would be to keep changing and waiting. I hope things will kick in for you and you get relief soon. Let us know how things progress.
Take care,
Renee
Not feeling too good tonight or rather this morning but I think I might have overdid it today.
I try when feeling a lttle better to do things.
I had a heart attack a year ago so combine that with being diagnosed with RA finally and then losing my job it has been a year to remember.
I understand what you mean about the pain.
After my heart attack the doctor put me on Prednisone and then tapered me off slowly.
I am on Plaquenil and also meloxicam Mobic.
Have been on other medications and now have tried to get used to all the meds I have to take now.
It's hard and that will take some getting used to.
Felt really good for a while but not right now.
My doctor is suggesting I see my heart guy and get a cortisone shot.
I do understand that it hurts and my heart goes out to you.